Infect Immun, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 202 - 4 Comparison fo agglutinin titers for Streptococcus mutans in tears, saliva, and serum; Allansmith MR et al.; The agglutinin titers for three Streptococcus mutans serotypes (AHT, BHT, and 10449, representing serotypes a, b, and c, respectively) were measured in the saliva, tears, and serum of 19 human subjects . Naturally occurring S . mutans agglutinins were routinely present in all fluids tested in the absence of overt local stimulation by antigen . The immunoglobulin A nature of this secretory agglutinin activity was suggested by blocking with alpha heavy-chain-specific antiserum and by the demonstration of S . mutans-reactive immunoglobulin A in the saliva and tears by indirect immunofluorescence . This finding is consistent with stimulation and antigen commitment of immunoglobulin A precursor lymphocytes at remote sites and subsequent homing to the lacrimal system . The relationship of anti-AHT agglutinins to anti-10449 agglutinins differed among the body fluids tested . The tears had more agglutinins for strain AHT than for strain 10449, whereas the reverse was true for saliva and serum . A possible explanation is local antigen-driven expansion of AHT-reactive committed lymphocytes in the lacrimal tissues. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1982, 76(3), 392 - 5 Necrotizing fasciitis-a disease of temperate and warm climates; Seal DV et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis is a distinct clinical entity . It is usually due to Streptococcus pyogenes but may occasionally be caused by Staphylococcus aureus . It needs to be considered in relationship to other infections due to Streptococcus pyogenes, in which the clinical disease that occurs may be associated with the depth of inoculation of the coccus . Mild cases have been identified that are self-limiting as well as serious cases which would have succumbed without surgical debridement . It is likely that some cases of necrotic tropical ulcer are due to necrotizing fasciitis. Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(2), 93 - 105 Group H streptococcal bacteriocins having no relation to bacterial transformation; Ito T; The culture filtrate of group H streptococcus strain Challis produced a competence factor (CF) for bacterial transformation as well as a bactericidal factor(s) against Wicky cells . Strain 36658, in the same streptococcal group, also produced the bactericidal factor(s) but not CF . The effect of the Challis bacteriocin was limited to strains Wicky and 58, whereas the 36658 bacteriocin affected 67% of 49 strains tested . Strain 58, one of the indicator strains, was affected by the bactericidal activity of these bacteriocins but not by CF activity, and failed to transform . No relationship between the bacteriocin-producing strains and indicator strains was observed . Both Challis and 36658 bacteriocin activities decreased markedly either when the bacteriocins were heated at 50 C for 30 min or with the addition of a protein synthesis inhibitor, but showed different sensitivities to trypsin, papain and lipase . The bacteriocins were of at least protein nature and their molecular weight was roughly estimated as 100,000 daltons by membrane filtration experiments . The 36658 bacteriocin is a new type of streptocin previously not reported . The possible absence of bacteriophage or phage-like particles in the preparations is discussed. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(2), 151 - 7 The production of bacteriocin-like substances by the oral bacterium Streptococcus salivarius; Dempster RP et al.; Inhibitory substances produced by six strains of Streptococcus salivarius were isolated and partially characterized . The six prototype producer strains were selected initially on the basis of their differing spectra of inhibitory activity when tested against a set of nine standard indicator strains . Optimal production conditions were defined for each producer strain and inhibitor-containing extracts were obtained for characterization studies . All of the inhibitors appeared to be proteinaceous substances of molecular weight greater than 3500 . When tested against a Streptococcus pyogenes indicator strain, one of the inhibitors was bactericidal, but the other five appeared to be bacteriostatic . Some differences between the inhibitors were observed with respect to heat and enzyme sensitivities. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(2), 113 - 6 Frequency of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the saliva of selected human populations; Togelius J et al.; Stimulated saliva was transported from the mouth to a selective substrate, MSB-agar, with a wooden spatula . School children, aged 7-15, military recruits, aged 19-21, and a group of refugees from Vietnam were investigated . 10-15 per cent, in one exceptional case 35 per cent of the sampled school children had no detectable Strep . mutans, whereas about 20 per cent had very high numbers . The recruits were slightly more infected, and the refugees heavily infected . High numbers of Strep . mutans in saliva indicate a high-caries risk. Acta Odontol Scand, 1982, 40(1), 57 - 63 Influence of in vitro propagation on the adhesive qualities of Streptococcus mutans isolated from saliva; Orstavik J et al.; Streptococcus mutans from saliva of one test person were isolated on mitis/salivarius agar containing bacitracin and extra sucrose, and subcultured in vitro on trypticase soy broth with numerous transfers . Freshly isolated organisms and bacteria from selected subcultures were studied in adhesion tests using glass or dental zinc phosphate cement as substrate . Different bacterial isolates were used in separate experiments . Three different techniques were used; two based on radioactivity assays of adhering 3H-thymidine-labelled bacteria, and one based on visual counting . With all three techniques freshly isolated S . mutans adhered in significant numbers . It was consistently found that their ability to adhere decreased with the number of in vitro transfers . The results support the view that growth condition is an important factor governing the adhesive properties of oral bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jan, 43(1), 257 - 60 Teflon chemostat for studies of trace metal metabolism in Streptococcus mutans and other bacteria; Strachan RC et al.; A teflon chemostat constructed for studies of microbial trace metal metabolism is described . The utility of this continuous culture system was demonstrated with Streptococcus mutans, in which iron and manganese stimulated growth in ranges of 0.18 to 0.45 and 18 to 54 microM, respectively . This device should facilitate studies of the effect of trace metals on a variety of physiological functions. Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Jan, 77(1), 72 - 7 Fluorescent antibody technic used for identification and typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Wicher K et al.; A fluorescent antibody technic (FAT) has been developed for identification and typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae . The technic was first compared with the Neufeld test (NT) using polyvalent antiserum and isolates identified as S . pneumoniae . Of 197 isolates, 191 (97%) were positive by both technic, and six strains (3%) were negative by both methods . Both tests were also used for determination of pneumococcal types agreed in 23 of 25 tests (92%) but the Neufeld test gave false results in 2 of 25 determinations (8%) . The polyvalent antiserum was used to examine by FAT direct films obtained from various specimens and the results were compared with Gram stain and cultures . Of 198 direct films in which gram-positive cocci resembling pneumococci were found, 154 were positive by FAT and 130 were positive by culture . FAT appears to be more reliable than Gram stain or culture . During a four-year period, isolated strains of pneumococci were typed by FAT and the results compared . A slight change in the incidence of the pneumococcal types was observed . Although the Neufeld test is simpler, FAT is easier to read and is a more reliable method if identifying pneumococci, especially in body fluids where the number of microorganisms might be limited . Also, FAT is a more reliable procedure in typing strains. Immunol Lett, 1982, 5(6), 317 - 22 Mitogenicity of streptococcal extracellular products and antagonism with concanavalin A; Cavaillon JM et al.; Extracellular products have been purified from group A Streptococcus pyogenes culture supernatant fluids and their mitogenicities have been tested on rabbit and mouse lymphocytes . Two fractions were mitogenic: the kappa-fraction (pI = 4.8, mol . wt . = 30,000), a protein which was identified as the erythrogenic toxin, and the epsilon-fraction (pI = 10.3, mol . wt . = 17,000) a glycoprotein, both stimulated rabbit and CBA mouse spleen cells . The stimulation of rabbit thymocytes was weak unless macrophages or 2-mercaptoethanol were added . A third product, the gamma-fraction (a protein, pI = 4.2, mol . wt . = 72,000) was very weakly mitogenic and had the capacity to reduce the stimulation induced by a T-cell mitogen, such as Con A, but not by a B-cell mitogen such as Nocardia. J Clin Immunol, 1982 Jan, 2(1), 39 - 45 Recurrent pyogenic infections in individuals with absence of the second component of complement; Sampson HA et al.; While deficiency of the terminal components of complement (C3-C8) has classically been associated with recurrent pyogenic infections, it has become apparent that C2 deficiency is also associated with recurrent infections in some individuals . The patient presented here had two major pyogenic infections prior to 1 year of age and was found to lack the second component of complement . Studies of alternative complement pathway and humoral and cellular immunity were found to be within normal limits . Family studies suggest an autosomal codominant pattern of inheritance for the C2 defect, which also corresponded to the inheritance of the HLA A10 B18 haplotype . A review of the literature revealed nine other cases of C2-deficient patients with well-documented recurrent infections . In these patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the organism most frequently implicated in infectious processes, whether or not their alternative complement pathway is intact. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(12), 1003 - 6 Differences in PH fall, phosphorus content and dissolution of enamel in layers of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans deposited in vitro on bovine enamel granules with and without fluoride varnish; Luoma H et al.; Bovine enamel granules were treated with fluoride varnish for 24 h . Samples of F-treated and untreated control enamel were covered with maleic-acid-NaOH buffer (pH 5.8) previously saturated with enamel salts and containing a standard amount of fresh Strep . mutans cells plus KCl and MgCl2 (6 and 1 mM, respectively) . The cells were centrifuged on the enamel; sucrose was added to the test and to control systems with fluoridated and non-fluoridated enamel; distilled water was added to non-fermenting controls . After incubation at 37 degrees C for intervals up to 2 h, fluoridation of the enamel had reduced the drop in pH of Strep . mutans plaque by 0.7 pH unit and reduced the release of Ca and P from enamel . Bacterial P levels were also significantly reduced in plaque in contact with fluoridated enamel . Magnesium concentrations outside the enamel were not altered. J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 1982, 32, 169 - 74 Effect of ovarian hormones on the phagocytic response of ovariectomized mares; Ganjam VK et al.; The reaction between ovarian hormones and experimental uterine infection (Streptococcus zooepidemicus) was investigated in 3 groups, each containing 6 ovariectomized mares . Group 1 served as controls ('anoestrus'), Group 2 mares were injected with oestrogen ('oestrus') and Group 3 with progesterone ('dioestrus') over a period of 5 weeks . All mares received an intrauterine inoculation of the bacteria 1 week after the start of hormonal treatment, and the results of the challenge were examined by endometrial biopsy and swabs once weekly . At the end of Week 1 no bacteria were recovered from the mares in Group 2 . Group 1 mares were free of bacteria at the end of Week 2 but all Group 3 mares remained infected at least for the total period examined . Streptococcal phagocytosis was quantitated by chemiluminescence . Before the challenge-inoculation, phagocytosis was not significantly different in the 3 groups of mares . Bacterial cultures were negative for all three groups . However, within 48 h after infection, there was a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in phagocytosis in Group 2 and a significant suppression (P less than 0.05) in Group 3 mares . Patterns of streptococcal clearance from the uterus closely paralleled the changes in the magnitude of chemiluminescence response . The results suggest that ovarian hormonal status can modulate the phagocytic response in episodes of streptococcal-induced endometritus in mares. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(11), 981 - 6 Effect of extracellular polysaccharides on diffusion of NaF and {14C}-sucrose in human dental plaque and in sediments of the bacterium Streptococcus sanguis 804 (NCTC 10904); McNee SG et al.; It has been postulated that extracellular polysaccharides form a barrier to diffusion in dental plaque . Diffusion coefficients, D, were measured for NaF and {14C}-sucrose in glucan-free and glucan-containing sediments of Strep . sanguis 804 at 37 degrees C . There was a tendency for NaF and {14C}-sucrose to diffuse faster as the carbohydrate concentration in the sediments increased . NaF diffused only 38 per cent more slowly in cell-free glucan sediment than in water, suggesting that glucan per se does not form a barrier to diffusion . The diffusion coefficient for NaF was positively correlated with carbohydrate concentration in individual plaque samples from 15 subjects and incubation of 3 plaque samples with sucrose resulted in both an increase in carbohydrate concentration in the plaque and an increase in D for NaF . Thus the presence of extracellular polysaccharides in plaque leads to slightly faster rates of diffusion . Nevertheless, the total time for diffusion through plaque may be increased if the presence of extracellular polysaccharides results in thicker layers of plaque. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(10), 861 - 8 Effect of caries preventive measures in children highly infected with the bacterium Streptococcus mutans; Zickert I et al.; The number of Strep . mutans in saliva samples was examined in 101 13-14-year-old children, 53 in a control and 48 in the test group . All in the test group with 2.5 X 10(5) Strep . mutans per ml saliva were treated with 1 per cent chlorhexidine gel, once a day, for 14 days when the number of Strep . mutans was greatly reduced . Saliva samples were then examined in the test group every 4th month and all children with Strep . mutans levels above 2.5 X 10(5) were treated . A few selected children had fissure sealants applied to the occlusal surfaces . After 3 years, the mean number of new carious lesions was 9.6 in the control group and 4.2 in the test group . In the children with 10(6) Strep . mutans at the start of the study, the corresponding figures were 20.8 compared with 3.9 . Thus a reduction in caries activity can be achieved by controlled antimicrobial treatment. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(10), 817 - 22 Colonization and cariogenic potential in hamsters of the bacterium Streptococcus sanguis isolated from human dental plaque; Westergren G et al.; Strains of Strep . sanguis, freshly isolated from human dental plaque, were successfully implanted into albino hamsters . Transmission of the organisms from infected to uninfected animals occurred naturally . The transfer was as effective between unrelated hamsters as between dams and their offspring . Three of the strains tested did not cause caries in hamsters . Laboratory strains of Strep . sanguis did not colonize the hamsters . Two morphological variants of Strep . sanguis with different abilities to adhere to whale dentine in vitro, could infect hamsters; the more adhering phenotype was detected earlier and more frequently. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(10), 809 - 16 Antibacterial action of condensed phosphates on the bacterium Streptococcus mutans and experimental caries in the hamster; Shibata H et al.; Condensed phosphates (CP: Na salts of pyro-, tripoly-, tetrapoly-, pentapoly-, hexameta- and ultra-; K salts of pyro- and poly-) used as food additives depressed the growth of seven strains of Streptococcus mutans (serotype a-g) as assessed by disc diffusion methods . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CP on growth of strain K1-R (g) in a chemically defined medium were measured turbidimetrically . Commercial grade CP (CP used) had the same growth inhibitory effects as purified linear type CP and they were superior to the cyclic type CP . The MIC of CP for Strep . mutans appeared to be related to their chelating capacity . As the growth inhibition by CP was reversed by the addition of divalent metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+ or Mn2+), the chelating capacity of CP was apparently responsible for their antibacterial action . The antibacterial action of CP seemed largely bacteriostatic . Condensed phosphates depressed lactate production from glucose and sucrose by the cells of strain K1-R . A similar inhibition was produced by the supernatant of heated human saliva . Condensed phosphates depressed insoluble glucan production from sucrose by the cells of strain K1-R . The inhibition of sugar metabolism may be due to the interference of sugar transport into Strep . mutans induced by the chelation effects of CP . Hamsters were inoculated orally with strain K1-R and reared on the high-sucrose diet No . 2000 supplemented with 2 per cent (w/w) CP for 60 days . Dietary supplements of CP were associated with reduced caries activity (p less than 0.01) and plaque formation (p less than 0.05) . The antibacterial actions of CP could be responsible for these caries-inhibitory effects. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(8), 697 - 700 The distribution of the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the gastrointestinal tract of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis); Walker J et al.; The success of oral vaccines based on Strep . mutans might be influenced by its presence in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract . Enumeration of Strep . mutans at various sites of the GI tract of sucrose-fed monkeys revealed a localized distribution . High numbers of Strep . mutans were recovered from only the dental plaque, caecum and the large intestine . Where Strep . mutans was not detectable in the dental plaque it could not be isolated from regions of the GI tract sampled . The absence of Strep . mutans from the small intestine suggests that the disparate results obtained from experiments in which this organism was used to immunize monkeys orally, are not attributable to the prior colonization of such an immunologically important region. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(8), 693 - 5 Effects of two potential sucrose-substitute sweetening agents on deposition of an oral streptococcus on glass in the presence of sucrose; Verran J et al.; The effects of trichlorogalacto-sucrose (TGS) and xylitol upon deposition by sedimentation of Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10832 were measured in terms of percentage coverage and mean clump size, using computerized image-analysis . The following test solutions were used: sucrose, sucrose plus xylitol, sucrose plus TGS, xylitol, TGS, and saline alone . Xylitol and TGS both significantly reduced the mean clump size of sucrose-incubated cells; TGS also significantly reduced percentage coverage by cells incubated with sucrose . Xylitol and TGS differed significantly from one another regarding their effects upon both percentage coverage and mean clump size of cells incubated in sucrose solution . It was postulated that TGS and xylitol might affect sucrose-associated aggregation of Strep . mutans. Acta Odontol Scand, 1982, 40(4), 193 - 6 Effect of sucrose rinses on bacterial colonization on amalgam and composite; Skjorland KK et al.; The effect of sucrose rinses on the bacteriology of early plaque on enamel, amalgam and composite was investigated . Three test persons rinsed with a 15% sucrose solution every hour for 12 h prior to the insertion of the test materials . Round disks of amalgam and composite were carried on the buccal surfaces of the upper molars for 2 1/2 h . Sucrose rinses were found to have an effect both on plaque composition and on the amount of plaque on composite, but not no enamel or on amalgam . A small increase in the number of Streptococcus mutans as well as a general increase in the number of bacteria were found. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(6), 513 - 6 Competitive properties of lactate dehydrogenase mutants of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the rat; Johnson KP et al.; Prior establishment of a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-deficient mutant of Streptococcus mutans in the mouths of rats caused a 10-10,000-fold increase in the minimal infectious dose for persistent colonization by wild-type strains of this organism . The finding that LDH-deficient mutants can render their host relatively resistant to infection by decay-causing strains of Strep . mutans while being much less pathogenic themselves, lends support to their prospective usefulness as effector strains in the replacement therapy of dental caries. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(6), 435 - 41 Influence of dietary disaccharides on mouth microorganisms and experimental dental caries in rats; Schemmel RA et al.; Osborne-Mendel rats were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans at weaning, divided into 5 groups and fed cariogenic diets containing 56 per cent sugar either as sucrose, maltose, lactose or combinations of sucrose/maltose and sucrose/lactose . The number of Strep . mutans on molar teeth of rats fed the diet high in maltose was much lower than for any other group of rats (p less than 0.01) . Although Strep . mutans levels were low for rats fed maltose, the incidence of carious lesions was similar to rats fed sucrose when the textures of the two sugars were similar . Although maltose does not support plaque formation, it is a fermentable carbohydrate which can provide, if microorganisms are present, an environment conducive to dental decay . The incidence of carious lesions was highest among rats fed lactose. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(4), 347 - 54 Lysozyme binding by a polyglycerol phosphate polymer of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans BHT; Iacono VJ et al.; The antibacterial properties of lysozyme for Streptococcus mutans BHT may be a function of its binding to cell components other than to peptidoglycan . Inhibitors of muramidase activity, including histamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, only partially blocked the bacteriostatic effects on this strain . Greater than 20 mM histamine alone inhibited growth suggesting a bacteriostatic potential . An autoclaved saline extract was then prepared from stationary phase cultures in a chemically-defined medium . As little as 31.25 micrograms of the extract significantly blocked the effect of 50 micrograms lysozyme and complete enzyme inhibition was achieved with 62.5 micrograms . The extract was fractionated and location of potential binding components determined by a precipitin method consisting of diffusing the samples into 1.2 per cent agarose containing lysozyme . Binding components eluted in the first peak of a Sephacryl S-300 column, bound to DEAE-cellulose, but desorbed with gradient elution (0.1-1.0 M tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0) . The eluted material was then applied to an affinity column containing purified lysozyme coupled to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B . Non-absorbed anionic material precipitated only with protamine . Lysozyme-binding fractions eluted in a sharp peak with 1.0 M tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0), did not bind wheat-germ agglutinin, contained less than 50 micrograms protein, 95 micrograms sugar, 66.7 micrograms phosphorus, less than 0.25 mequiv lipid and no detectable nucleic acids . The peak material reacted with antiserum directed against polyglycerol phosphate, indicating that it contained acylated or, possibly, deacylated lipoteichoic acid . The findings suggest that the antibacterial properties of lysozyme for Strep . mutans BHT may, in part, be modified (or possibly regulated) by binding to molecules such as lipoteichoic acid. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(3), 279 - 81 beta-haemolysis and pigment production by the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans; Woltjes J et al.; The prevalence of beta-haemolysis and yellow pigmentation among 89 isolates of Streptococcus mutans from human dental plaque and 59 Strep . mutans isolates from positive cultures of human dental root canals were investigated . beta-Haemolytic strains were more frequent among the root-canal isolates (25.4 per cent) than among the dental plaque isolates (12.4 per cent) . The distribution of pigment production among beta-haemolytic strains (22 pigmented strains out of 26 strains) and among non-haemolytic strains (5 pigmented strains out of 122 strains) showed a relationship between haemolysin and pigment production . beta-Haemolytic, pigmented strains (biotype c and e and 35-39 per cent guanine plus cytosine) were common in plaque and were the dominant type of Strep . mutans in some plaques . As beta-haemolysis by Strep . mutans was only demonstrated after strict anaerobic growth, whereas pigment production was demonstrated after growth under less anaerobic conditions (candle jar) on sucrose-containing agar plates, the observation of pigment may facilitate a presumptive identification of beta-haemolytic strains of Strep . mutans. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 185(1), 21 - 9 A competence specific inducible protein promotes in vivo recombination in Streptococcus sanguis; Raina JL et al.; We describe the first example of a recombination-specific protein induced during the development of competence for transformation in Streptococcus sanguis . Elaborated in response to stimulation by competence-protein, the 51,000 Molecular Weight (MW) polypeptide is one of at least 10 new polypeptides transiently induced during the competence phase . Biochemical and genetic analyses of the parental, cipA+ (competence specific inducible polypeptide A), and mutant, cipA, strains have shown that the 51,000 MW polypeptide has two roles: its low level constitutive synthesis is required for repair of damage to DNA due to UV light and methylmethane sulfonate; its induced synthesis (3--6 x 10(4) copies/cell) during the competence phase is essential for promoting recombination between donor single-standard DNA and the recipient chromosome . Also, ccc plasmid donor DNA transformation, which occurs as a decreasing probability of the increasing donor plasmid MW, requires the inducible function specified by the 51,000 MW polypeptide . The MW independent low level transformation with ccc plasmids, the inheritance of plasmids by conjugation, and the stable maintenance of plasmids introduced by transformation and conjugation, respectively, are independent of the function specified by the 51,000 MW polypeptide. Acta Odontol Scand, 1982, 40(1), 49 - 56 Preferential affinity of oral bacteria for homologous salivary films on dental materials; Orstavik J et al.; Freshly isolated strains of Streptococcus mutans from saliva of two test subjects were tested for adhesion to various dental gold alloys and one brand of luting cement . The materials were covered with pellicle derived from one or the other of the two subjects . In "crossover" experiments it was consistently found that S . mutans adhered in greater numbers to pellicles of homologous origin . This preference for the homologous pellicle appeared to vary among the materials tested as substrates; also, the total number of organisms adhering varied among the materials . Moreover, different isolates varied in their affinity for the materials and showed a varying degree of dependence on homologous pellicle for adherence . In vitro plaque formation of mixed oral flora on pellicle-coated dental casting gold alloy were also more abundant on homologous pellicles as compared with heterologous ones . The results support the view that biologically specific mechanisms contribute to the adhesion of bacteria to dental restorative materials, and to the build-up of a bacterial plaque on these materials. Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1982, 133(8), 557 - 60 {Obstructive hypertrophic myocardiopathy and Osler's endocarditis}; Bourmayan C et al.; Four cases of bacterial endocarditis (BE) complicating hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) were observed between 1978 and 1980 . The causal organism was a streptococcus in all cases and the portal of entry, dental . The mitral regurgitation (MR) observed in HOCM as an epiphenomenon of the obstruction became autonomous in 2 patients as shown by phonocardiography with methoxamine . In one case, the MR became severe and justified mitral valve replacement; at surgery, the chordal rupture suspected on echocardiography was confirmed . Antibiotic therapy was effective on the infectious process in all cases . However, 2 of the 4 patients died, one of thrombosis of the mitral prosthesis on the 15th postoperative day, and the other of a cerebrovascular accident . None of the patients had a detectable aortic or septal infectious lesion . Eight of 27 reported cases (30 p 100) of HOCM complicated by BE were operated; 10 (37 p . 100) died as a result of the endocarditis . These cases underline the incidence of BE in HOCM (5 p . 100) its gravity and the necessity for systematic antibiotic prophylaxis, especially before dental treatment. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1982, 61(6), 460 - 72 {Bacteremia and specific antibody response . IgG and IgM specificity in the evaluation of positivity in blood cultures}; Airo R et al.; Specific serum IgG and IgM directed against blood culture isolated bacteria have been determined in patients with positive blood culture by the indirect immunofluorescence and passive hemagglutination methods in order to distinguish the true positive blood cultures due to bacteremia from those due to contamination . 45 (16%) out of 280 blood cultures examined during the period 1/1/1980-30/1/1981 gave positive isolations: 25 cases (55.5%) were due to gram-negative bacteria and the remaining 20 cases (44.5) to gram-positive bacteria: among these there were 9 cases (20% of the total positive blood cultures) with isolation of micrococci . No positive blood culture for anaerobic bacteria were observed during that time interval . 96% of patients from whose blood cultures gram-negative bacteria had been isolated showed high titres of serum specific antibodies with both the indirect immunofluorescence and the passive hemagglutination methods . Only 40% of the cases whose blood cultures gave isolation of gram-positive bacteria showed high titres of serum specific IgG . The remaining 60% that did not show presence of serum specific antibodies included 9 cases of positive blood culture for micrococci (well known as contaminants) and 2 cases for streptococcus (in two of these there had been a mixed flora isolation) . Specific IgM antibodies at significant level were also present in 76% of patients with positive blood culture for gram-negative bacteria and in 40% of patients with positive blood culture for gram-positive bacteria . All patients whose cultures gave isolation of micrococci showed absence of specific IgM . The observed good correspondence between isolation of contaminant bacteria on one hand and the absence of serum specific antibodies on the other, and vice versa between isolation of pathogenic bacteria (either obligate or opportunistic) an one hand and the presence of high level of specific antibodies on the other suggests that the search of specific immune response in patients with positive blood culture might constitute a good criterion (in addition to the classical criteria) for distinguishing true positive blood cultures from contaminated blood cultures. Vet Med Nauki, 1982, 19(10), 37 - 44 {Bacteriological and morphological findings in aborted cattle fetuses}; Buchvarova Ia et al.; Bacteriologic investigations were carried out on a total of 142 fetuses aborted by cows . C . pyogenes, V . fetus, Streptococcus pyogenes animalis (Sofia), M . bovigenitalium, A . laidlawii, E . coli, and B . subtilis were isolated from 34 fetuses (24 per cent) . Besides, single of these species were found in 80 per cent of the positive cases, and a mixed infection--in 20 per cent . The morphologic changes in all 34 fetuses that were positive were seen chiefly in the lungs and liver . Such lesions, however, were not instrumental in differentiating the etiologic agent. Immunol Lett, 1982, 5(6), 323 - 6 Induction of interferon by streptococcus pyogenes extracellular products; Cavaillon JM et al.; Lymphocyte-activating streptococcal exoproteins, which were previously characterized, have been tested for their capacity to induce interferon in vitro . Two out of the 3 different streptococcal fractions, studied on mice splenocytes, were shown to elicit the production of a significant amount of interferon . A large proportion of the interferon detected in the supernatants from mice activated spleen cells was acid-labile interferon . The highest level of interferon titer was obtained with the streptococcal fraction identified as the erythrogenic toxin. Biol Neonate, 1982, 42(3-4), 166 - 73 Quantitative bacteriological analysis of amniotic fluid; Courcol RJ et al.; Quantitative bacteriological analysis of amniotic fluid (AF) was performed on 60 fluid samples collected by catheter from 50 selected labor patients regarded as liable to infection . AF cultures were positive in 52 cases . The bacterial colony counts ranged from less than 10(2) colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter to 10(9) CFU/ml . Pathogenic bacteria in neonates such as group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes were encountered with numerations equal to or greater than 10(7) CFU/ml in groups with clinical findings . An excellent correlation was noted between bacterial counts in AF and clinical data (p less than 0.00006) . The results confirm that the quantitative bacteria analysis of the AF is a useful tool for evaluation of an infection risk for neonates. Mikrobiologiia, 1982 Jan-Feb, 51(1), 85 - 9 {Effect of regulators on bacterial autolysis}; Kislukhina OV et al.; The aim of this work was to study the effect of autolysis regulators (the fraction of microbial teichoic acids) on the rate of autolysis and the activity of bacterial extracellular lytic enzymes . The regulators of autolysis isolated from 23 cultures belonging to 10 microbial species regulated the rate of autolysis in Bacillus, E . coli and Streptococcus lactis . The regulators either activated or inhibited autolysis depending on the substrate (of a bacterium to be subjected to autolysis) . The quantitative dependence of the autolysis rate on the regulator concentration was specific for each pair 'regulator--substrate' . The regulatory properties of the fraction of teichoic acids varied depending on the age of a culture from which they had been isolated . The regulators of autolysis, with an exception of the preparation from E . coli, inhibited the activity of B . subtilis extracellular lytic enzymes in the course of their action on E . coli cells . The possibility for using the regulators of autolysis in microbiological processes is discussed. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(12), 1033 - 7 Effect of linolenyl alcohol on the in-vitro growth of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans; Crout RJ et al.; The effect of primary aliphatic alcohols of varying chain length and degree of unsaturation on bacterial growth was assessed, using Strep . mutans BHT as the main test organism . Unsaturated alcohols, linoleyl and linolenyl, effectively inhibited bacterial growth . Of the saturated alcohols, only lauryl and myristyl alcohols inhibited the growth of Strep . mutans BHT, but at concentrations much higher than those required for the unsaturated alcohols . All Gram-positive organisms tested were sensitive to linolenyl alcohol . Gram-negative bacteria did not exhibit the sensitivity . Linoleic and linolenic acid were inactive as antibacterial agents at the same concentration as the related alcohol . Repeated exposure of Strep . mutans BHT to linolenyl alcohol produced no change in the sensitivity of the organism to the alcohol . Significant amounts of linolenyl alcohol were found in bacteria grown in the presence of this lipid for 24 h but linolenic acid was not detected . Thus the primary polyunsaturated aliphatic alcohols, particularly linolenyl alcohol, could be effective antibacterial agents for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease. Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am, 1982, 10(4), 225 - 30 {Candidiasis in children with diaper rash . Study of 140 cases}; Lopez Martinez R et al.; The frequency of genito-crural candidiasis in infants presenting diaper rash, as well as the possible influence of bacterial flora in this region on the pathogenicity of Candida was studied . Skin scraping were made with sterile swabs and processed by bacteriological and mycological methods in 140 children whose ages ranged between 0 and 20 months . The most commonly found microbiological flora were Candida spp (65.7%), non hemolytic Streptococcus (18.5%), Staphylococus epidermidis (19.2%); beta hemolytic Streptococcus (12.8%) and alfa-hemolytic Streptococcus (9.2%) . Of the 140 cases, 76 (54.3%) showed candidiasis associated with diaper rash and 16 (11.4%) had Candida as normal flora . C . albicans was most frequently found (66.3%) followed by C . tropicalis (19.6%) . Candidiasis was more frequent in those infants that had no other associated of pathogenic flora . Factors significantly influencing the increase in the frequency of candidiasis were: A) Evolution time, which was directly proportional; B) Use of cotton diapers covered with plastic pants; C) Feeding with cow's as opposed to maternal milk; and D) Malnutrition associated with poor hygiene. J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 1982, 32, 143 - 9 Studies on the composition and antibacterial activity of uterine fluid from mares; Blue MG et al.; Forty uterine fluid samples were obtained during oestrus and dioestrus of successive cycles from 4 mares classified as resistant to bacterial infection of the uterus . The flushings were assayed for peroxidase activity and ability to influence phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear neutrophils . Uterine fluid volumes and protein concentrations and serum oestrogen values were similar during oestrus and dioestrus . Serum progesterone concentrations were depressed during oestrus . Equine neutrophils adherent to glass slides were exposed to a genital strain of Streptococcus zooepidemicus suspended in saline . Neutrophil phagocytosis was significantly higher when cells were incubated with oestrous uterine fluid than with dioestrous fluid . The addition of 5% serum to the incubation medium increased the rates of in-vitro phagocytosis, but these did not differ between oestrus and dioestrus . Rates of phagocytosis with and without serum were not correlated with serum oestrogens or progesterone, or with protein content of uterine fluid . Peroxidase activity of uterine fluid in the absence of infection was negligible throughout the oestrous cycle . There were no significant correlations between peroxidase levels and serum oestrogens or progesterone, but the correlation between peroxidase and protein concentration of uterine fluid was significant (r = 0 X 87) . Bacterial or fungal infections led to increased protein content of uterine fluid, and usually marked increases in peroxidase, both probably derived from the visibly obvious populations of leucocytes. Scand J Infect Dis, 1982, 14(4), 305 - 8 Cerebritis due to group B streptococcus; Kim KS et al.; A premature infant who died of early-onset group B streptococcal meningitis was found to have cerebritis with direct bacterial infection of the basal ganglia . Although the organism was sensitive to penicillin by in vitro testing, it was not eradicated from the cerebrospinal fluid after 48 h of antibiotic treatment . These findings illustrate that suppurative extension with cerebritis of the basal ganglia as a complication of group B streptococcal meningitis may be one of the factors responsible for treatment failure. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(10), 869 - 73 Factors affecting the in-vitro adherence of the fungal oral pathogen Candida albicans to epithelial cells of human origin; Samaranayake LP et al.; An in-vitro technique was used to investigate the effects of oral commensal bacteria, serum, saliva, germ-tube formation and pH on the adherence of two strains of C . albicans to HeLa cells . Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus mitior reduced candidal adhesion whereas Streptococcus mutans had no significant effect . A mixed salivary pellicle on HeLa cells significantly enhanced candidal adhesion and a serum layer had no effect . Yeasts pre-incubated in whole saliva for 3 h showed significantly greater adhesion to HeLa and human embryonic kidney epithelial cells than yeasts in phosphate-buffered saline . The adherence of hyphal phase candida was significantly greater than in the blastospore phase . Adhesion varied with the pH of the test medium, maximal adherence was at pH 3 with less under neutral pH conditions . The factors involved in the adhesion of C . albicans to epithelial surfaces are complex and may play a role in the aetiopathology of human mucosal candidoses. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(10), 853 - 9 Nephelometric assay for the immunoglobulin A1-protease produced by the oral bacterium Streptococcus sanguis; Lindler LE et al.; Streptococcus sanguis, an initiator of human dental plaque, produces an endopeptidase which cleaves immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) at the hinge region . A rapid nephelometric assay was developed for the quantitation of IgA1-specific protease activity . The protease was produced in dialysis cultures which yielded cell-free fluids having 14 times the specific activity of conventional cultures . Assay was based on the difference in detectable IgA1 concentrations at the start and termination of the reaction; IgA1 concentrations were determined by rate of complex formation with IgA-specific antibody . The rates of IgA1 cleavage were linear during incubations up to 3 h if enzyme preparations were sufficiently diluted . The assay resolution was less than that achieved with sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but 1 h incubation of protease-IgA1 reaction mixtures was adequate for measurement . The pH optimum for the reaction was 7.0 and the calculated Km was 5.6 X 10(-5)M IgA1 . The optimal incubation temperature was in the range of 37-40 degrees C; the enzyme lost all activity at 55 degrees C. Microbios, 1982, 35(139), 17 - 20 Detection of bacteraemia in children seen in the outpatient department: a comparison of conventional blood culture methods and a Castaneda blood culture; Brook I et al.; Modified Castaneda blood culture bottles were used to diagnose bacteraemia in children attending the out patient clinic . Bacterial growth was detected in twelve out of 147 patients (8%), in both the routine and Castaneda blood culture bottles . Streptococcus pneumoniae was recovered in nine patients (6%), and H . influenzae in three patients (2%) . The average length of time required to identify the organisms utilizing the routine blood culture bottles was 2 days (range 1 to 4 days), while the average time utilizing Castaneda bottles was 3.5 days (range 1 to 6 days) . Castaneda blood bottles were found in this work to be effective in the detection of bacteraemia in children, and because of their simplicity they may serve for the detection of bacteraemia by physicians in general practice. Acta Odontol Scand, 1982, 40(5), 283 - 7 Electron immunoperoxidase stainings in sections of unfixed pure cultures of Streptococcus mutans; Berthold P et al.; Unfixed as well as glutaraldehyde-fixed pelleted cells from pure cultures of Streptococcus mutans subspecies sobrinus (B13) were embedded in glycolmethacrylate . Ultrathin were sections immunoperoxidase labelled with rabbit anti-S . mutans sobrinus gamma-globulin . It was found that unfixed specimens became labelled as precisely and as distinctly as did the fixed specimens . All controls were negative. Microbios, 1982, 33(133-34), 169 - 80 Glycoprotein inhibitors and iodophilic polysaccharide storage in group A Streptococcus pyogenes; McFarland CR et al.; Inhibitors of glycoprotein synthesis in eucaryotic cells also inhibited iodophilic polysaccharide (IPS) storage in group A streptococcus pyogenes . Addition of bacitracin or amphomycin, known inhibitors of polyisoprenol phosphate metabolism or lipid-linked oligosaccharide synthesis, indicated that a key intermediate must be synthesized before IPS storage could be detected . Based on inhibitor action and energy requirements the intermediate was most likely an undecaprenol pyrophosphoryl maltosaccharide . Biosynthesis of the maltosaccharide had an ATP requirement as shown by arsenate action but IPS synthesis via amylomaltase was energy independent if the lipid-linked saccharides were preformed . Maltosaccharide acceptor site blockade with 2-deoxy-d-glucose immediately inhibited IPS storage, which demonstrated the need of acceptor glucose residues for transglycosylation activity of amylomaltase . Tunicamycin failed to inhibit IPS synthesis although it was added in lethal concentrations. Infect Immun, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 138 - 42 Preemption of Streptococcus mutans 10449S colonization by its mutant 805; Tanzer JM et al.; Oral infection of rats with Streptococcus mutans mutant 805 was used to prevent the establishment of its highly virulent wild-type progenitor NCTC 10449S . The dose of wild-type cells required to colonize 100% of the specific pathogen-free Osborne-Mendel rats (21 to 43 days old) consuming caries test diet 2000 was greater than 4 x 10(5) but less than 4 x 10(6) cells . Therefore, the latter dose was used to challenge rats which had already been colonized by an oral dose of about 6 x 10(8) cells of mutant 805 . This prior infection by 805 either completely protected rats from subsequent colonization by wild-type cells or greatly delayed and diminished their emergence . Rats in which wild-type cells became established showed much lower percentages of wild-type cells in their total recoverable floras than did rats that were not first infected by the mutant . Large doses of mutant 805, however, did not displace wild-type cells from rats once it became established . There was no evidence of reversion of the mutant, which is defective in intracellular polysaccharide synthesis and hence is less virulent than wild-type cells . The data indicate that the S . mutans cell which first colonizes rats gains the strongest ecological position and is difficult to displace . Also, they suggest the possible prophylactic utility of infection by this mutant of S . mutans. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 187(2), 310 - 5 Sequence relationships between plasmids associated with conventional MLS resistance and zonal lincomycin resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes; Golubkov VI et al.; By using electron microscopy of self-annealed DNA and restriction enzyme analysis, we have compared the physical maps of two group A streptococcal plasmids associated with conventional MLS resistance (pEL1; 20 Md) and zonal lincomycin resistance (pSM10419; 15 Md) . Of their monomeric molecules, about 40% and 60%, respectively, are occupied by identical non-tandem inverted repeats containing sequences specifying putative replication functions . Sequence homology also exists between their resistance determinants which are located in unique DNA . Moreover, homology between additional regions of unknown function is so extensive and restriction fragment arrangement so similar that, formally, pSM10419 can be considered a deletion variant of pEL1 . The results suggest that MLS and zonal lincomycin resistance have the same biochemical basis (i.e . methylation of 23S ribosomal RNA) and differ only quantitatively in the inducible control systems. Mol Gen Genet, 1982, 185(3), 502 - 5 Transformation of Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) by linear plasmid molecules; Malke H et al.; The streptococcal erythromycin resistance plasmid pSM9 was used to study the problem of how the transforming activity of mixtures of two unique linear products of restriction enzyme digestion depends on the distance between the cleavage sites . In transformation of the Challis strain of S . sanguis, the transforming activity of mixed digests increased with increasing relative distances (x) between the restriction sites, where 0 less than or equal to X less than or equal to 0.5 . To explain the experimental results, a mathematical model was proposed according to which the overall probability (p) of transformation resulting in a functional replicon is the product of the partial probabilities of initial single-strand pairing, circularization, and stability of the paired intermediate, all of which were assumed to depend on x . A linear relationship found between transformation frequency and p was taken to support the model . Transformation of Challis by mixtures of two linearized plasmid molecules with regions of internal nonhomology resulting in paired intermediates with insertion or substitution loops allowed either donor molecule to contribute to the transformation yield. J Membr Biol, 1982, 66(1), 63 - 75 Stoichiometry of proton movements coupled to ATP synthesis driven by a pH gradient in Streptococcus lactis; Maloney PC et al.; An electrochemical potential difference for H+ was established across the plasma membrane of the anaerobe Streptococcus lactis by addition of sulfuric acid to cells suspended in potassium phosphate at pH 8 along with valinomycin or permeant anions . Subsequent acidification of the cell was measured by the distribution of salicyclic acid . A comparison between cells treated or untreated with the inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was used to reveal that portion of net proton entry attributable to a direct coupling between H+ inflow and synthesis of ATP catalyzed by the reversible proton-translocating ATPase of this microorganism . When the imposed electrochemical proton gradient was below 180-190 mV, proton entry was at the rate expected of passive flux, for both control cells and cells treated with the ATPase inhibitor, However, at higher driving force acidification of control cells was markedly accelerated, coincident with ATP synthesis, while acidification of cells treated with the inhibitor continued at the rate characteristic of passive inflow . This observed threshold (180-190 mV) was identified as the reversal potential for this H+ "pump" . Parallel measurements showed that the free energy of hydrolysis for ATP in these washed cells was 8.4 kcal/mole (370mV) . The comparison between the reversal (threshold) potential and the free energy of hydrolysis for ATP indicates a stoichiometry of 2 H+/ATP for the coupling of proton movements to ATP formation in bacteria. J Lab Clin Med, 1982 Jan, 99(1), 118 - 26 Cytotoxicity of the glycolipid region of streptococcal lipoteichoic acid for cultures of human heart cells; Simpson WA et al.; The ability of LTA of Streptococcus pyogenes to stimulate cell division or to kill tissue culture cells derived from human heart was investigated . Initial studies indicated that at low concentrations, ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 micrograms/ml, LTA stimulated cell division, whereas at higher concentrations, ranging from 10 to 1000 micrograms/ml, it killed the cells . Deacylated lipoteichoic acid, which lacked cell membrane binding activity, similarly stimulated or killed the heart cells depending on the concentration added to the tissue cultures . Fractionation of LTA after mild ammonia hydrolysis yielded a polyglycerophosphate and polar lipid fraction, both of which retained the glucose from the glycolipid moiety of the LTA molecule, and a neutral lipid fraction that was devoid of phosphorus or glucose . Toxic activity was present only in the fractions containing glucose . Oxidation of LTA or its deacylated derivative with sodium metaperiodate reduced the assayable glucose content without destroying the polyglycerophosphate backbone and resulted in a parallel loss of cytotoxicity, strongly suggesting that the glucose moieties of S . pyogenes LTA must be intact for the toxic activity against human heart cells to be expressed. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(12), 1039 - 45 Effect of specific antisera on adherence properties of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans; Douglas CW et al.; Antisera to Strep . mutans antigens B, glucosyltransferase (GTF) and a glucan-binding protein (GBP) reduced the build-up of this bacterium on glass surfaces in vitro; antiserum to antigen A and a control non-immune serum were without significant effect . The same sera were used to study the involvement of these antigens in cell-cell aggregation mediated by sucrose or water-soluble Dextran 2000 . Antiserum to GTF and antigen B inhibited sucrose-dependent cell-cell aggregation of the organism by approximately 50 per cent; none of the antisera tested had any effect upon dextran-mediated aggregation . In the presence of sucrose, GTF and GBP became cell associated while the distribution of antigens A and B between culture supernatant and cell surface remained unchanged . Cells incubated in the presence of Dextran 2000 showed no change in the distribution of any of these antigens . It is concluded that the aggregation of Strep . mutans induced by sucrose or by dextran involves different cellular components . Consideration of these in-vitro results in relation to data from experiments in which macaque monkeys were immunized with purified Strep . mutans antigens suggests that inhibition of sucrose-dependent adherence is not the basis for protection against dental caries. Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(8), 677 - 88 Synthesis of glucan on the cell surface of Streptococcus mutans: chemical and scanning electron microscopic studies; Tsumori H et al.; The appearance and continuing growth of extracellular material on Streptococcus mutans HS6 cells in sucrose-containing Merthiolated buffer was observed in a scanning electron microscope and was found to be related to the glucan synthesis on the cell and to adherence of the cell to a smooth surface . Cells grown in broth completely deprived of sucrose by invertase (HS6-IV) had a characteristic, slightly rugged surface structure . On incubation of HS6-IV in the sucrose-containing buffer, a few small globular particles appeared on the surface and grew to an irregular shape (globular to fibrilar) after several hours . The increase in the total glucan content of the cells paralleled the growth of the globular material, to which ferritin-conjugated anti-dextran globulin was found to bind . On the cell surface of cells harvested from conventional broth, both small globular and irregular structures, which possibly formed from sucrose in the broth, existed originally and continued to grow during incubation, along with the material newly appearing on the surface . The accumulation of glucan on the cells resulted in their adherence to a glass surface . The inhibition of growth of the extracellular material on the cells by trypsin, dextranase or anti-glucosyltransferase corresponded to the decrease in glucan synthesis and the loss of adhering ability . These results indicated that the material growing on the cell surface was glucan synthesized by glucosyltransferases. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(4), 261 - 6 In vitro activity of moxalactam and cefoperazone against Streptococcus pneumoniae with differing susceptibilities to penicillin; Tarpay MM et al.; In vitro studies were performed to examine the potential usefulness of two new drugs, moxalactam and cefoperazone, for the treatment of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae . 34 isolates of S . pneumoniae with differing susceptibilities to penicillin were examined by disk diffusion, agar and microbroth dilution methods . Isolates highly resistant to penicillin (MIC greater then 1 microgram/ml) were also resistant to moxalactam (MIC = 128 micrograms/ml) but were sensitive to cefoperazone (MIC = 2--4 micrograms/ml) . All isolates relatively resistant to penicillin (MIC 0.25--0.5 micrograms/ml) were sensitive to cefoperazone (MIC 0.25--1 microgram/ml) and had moxalactam MICs of 4--16 micrograms/ml for 10/12 isolates . The disk diffusion test was unreliable for detecting strain relatively resistant to moxalactam . These studies showed that cefoperazone is more active than moxalactam in vitro against S . pneumoniae regardless of the penicillin susceptibility of these bacteria. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(6), 455 - 61 A comparative study of extracellular glucanhydrolase and glucosyltransferase enzyme activities of five different serotypes of oral Streptococcus mutans; Felgenhauer B et al.; The activities of glucanhydrolase (EC 3.2.1.11) and glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.5) in crude enzyme preparations of 44 strains of Streptococcus mutans of five serotypes were investigated . The strains were grown in a laboratory fermentor for 16 h and the enzymes were isolated by adding solid ammonium sulphate to the culture supernatant, resulting in a 12-fold enrichment of the enzymes . For glucanhydrolase, strains of serotype a showed the lowest total activity (0.768 U, approx . 120 ml), whereas strains of serotype d had an activity 39 times higher (29.9 U) . The total activities of strains of serotypes b, c and e were 5.56, 6.30 and 7.06 U, respectively . For glucosyltransferase, strains of type e showed the highest total activity (293 U), whereas differences between strains of the other four types were insignificant (type a: 158 U; type b: 175 U; type c: 191 U; type d: 225 U; approx . 120 ml) . A strong correlation was found between the glucanhydrolase activity and the percentage of insoluble glucan synthesized in vitro by the respective strains . This correlation was not substantially changed if the enzyme activities were expressed as specific activities, or as total activities against bacterial weight. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1982, 31(3-4), 217 - 25 Construction of plasmid vectors for gene cloning in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis; Bal J et al.; The construction and some properties of new hybrid plasmids which are able to replicate in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are presented . A 5.5 Md hybrid plasmid pJP9 was constructed from pBR322 (Tc, Ap) and pUB110 (Nm) plasmids . pIM1 (7.0 Md) and pIM3 (7.7 Md) plasmids are its different erythromycin resistant derivatives . Tetracycline, ampicillin, neomycin and possibly erythromycin resistance genes are expressed in E . coli while neomycin and erythromycin resistance genes are expressed in B . subtilis . Insertional inactivation of only one gene is possible using the pJP9 plasmid as a vector in B . subtilis . However, insertional inactivation of at least two different genes can be achieved and monitored in E . coli and B . subtilis transformants in cloning experiments with PIM1 and pIM3 plasmids . Insertional inactivation of antibiotic resistance genes present in pJP9 plasmid was achieved by cloning of Streptococcus sanguis DNA fragments generated by appropriate restriction endonucleases . The pJP9 plasmid and its derivatives were found to be stable in both hosts cells. Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(10), 933 - 40 Study of the mode of action of ribosomal vaccines from Klebsiella and Streptococcus pneumoniae and their ribonucleic and protein fractions using passive immunization; Robert D et al.; The vaccinating potency of ribosomal fractions of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as their ribosomal RNA and protein fractions has been studied with respect to their ability to induce cellular or humoral immunity . Experiments with transfer of serum or spleen cells from vaccinated animals have shown that anti-Klebsiella immunity is essentially cellular, while streptococcal immunity is exclusively humoral . Results have been discussed as a function of differential results for the various fractions under study. Microbios, 1982, 34(136), 99 - 112 Effects of exogenous soluble dextrans on insoluble glucan synthesis by Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase; Sato S et al.; Production of water-insoluble glucan (ISG) from sucrose by cell-free Streptococcus mutans AHT glucosyltransferase (GTF) first rapidly increased, and then sharply declined, as the amounts of water-soluble Dextrans T20 approximately T500 present, were increased . The decline of ISG synthesis was accompanied by an increased synthesis of the water-soluble fraction (SG) . Prolonged incubation, however, induced enhanced synthesis of ISG even at higher dextran concentrations . The concentration of dextran required to stimulate or suppress ISG synthesis depended on the amounts of GTF used, but the extent of the stimulation was almost identical for the same GTF/dextran ratio . Thus, ISG synthesis is stimulated by the presence of dextrans at relatively low concentrations, but retarded at higher concentrations by being shifted to SG synthesis . ISG produced in the presence of dextrans contained higher proportions of alpha-1,6 glucosidic linkage and lower molecular size fractions, and possessed lower viscosity . These ISG products did not exhibit the coalescence of two component fibrils as observed with control ISG . These changes combined may contribute to the reduction of ISG-dependent adherence to glass of S . mutans cells by the presence of soluble dextrans, irrespective of their molecular size and concentration. Microbios, 1982, 33(131), 7 - 14 Serotype specificity for some biochemical characteristics of Streptococcus mutans; Inoue M et al.; Representative strains of Streptococcus mutans serotypes a to g were examined for characteristic in vitro traits thought to contribute to cariogenic virulence . Most strains of serotypes a, d and g produced higher proportion of the cell-associated, alkali-soluble glucans from sucrose . Cells of these serotypes agglutinated upon addition of high-molecular-weight dextrans or sucrose, but did not adsorb well to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite . Serotype c, e and f strains, by contrast, synthesized higher proportions of the extracellular, water-soluble glucans and adsorbed well to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite particles but did not agglutinate with dextrans . Thus, serotype a, d and g S . mutans and type c, e and f S . mutans formed two separate groups on the basis of these biochemical properties . Synthesis of intracellular iodophilic polysaccharides from glucose showed a different pattern of distribution among the serotypes: types a, d, e and f synthesized large amounts of this polysaccharide, while all but one of the eight type c and g strains produced only small amounts . Serotype b S . mutans seemed to constitute a separate subgroup in terms of the above in vitro traits. Arch Ophthalmol, 1982 Jan, 100(1), 77 - 80 Ulcerative keratitis . Survey of 30 years' laboratory experience; Asbell P et al.; During a 30-year period, causative organisms were identified on Gram's stain and culture in 547 of 677 cases of infectious corneal ulcers . Even if no organisms were seen on Gram's stain, culture results were often positive . Staphylococcus was the most common isolate; Moraxella, Pseudomonas, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the next most frequent pathogens . Only 1% of cases were fungal . Of some help in identifying the causative organism were locations, presence or absence of hypopyon, and perforation of the ulcer . Most marginal lesions were a result of staphylococcal infection; central lesions were more likely to be Gram-negative ulcers . Fungal ulcers were identified by laboratory workup and not by clinical characteristics . Moraxella infection was observed almost exclusively in malnourished patients . Pseudomnas ulcers were often seen in patients with large body burns or patients receiving respiratory assistance . Gentamicin and neomycin were the most effective treatments. Infect Immun, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 240 - 7 Mouse protection assay for group B streptococcus type III; Fleming DO; The mucin model for group B Streptococcus (GBS) type III was used to assay the protective effect of sera against a type III challenge in mice . Hyperimmune rabbit sera, prepared by the Lancefield method against the laboratory reference strain (SS620) and a clinical isolate (M732), protected against a lethal challenge with either strain of GBS type III . Absorption of the sera with either of these type III strains removed the protective effect . Neither normal rabbit sera nor heterologous antisera (anti-Ia, SS615) provided protection; however, protection was obtained with pooled human gamma globulin . Sera from adult volunteers were tested to assay protective levels in the mouse model . Human sera enhanced the mouse lethality of the clinical isolate, M732, but not the laboratory reference strain, SS620 . Sera from adults vaccinated with type III polysaccharide of GBS were also tested . The murine-mucin-GBS model may be developed as a screening test to measure protective antibody levels in the pre- and postvaccine treatment period . The model may also be used to measure protective antibody in pooled human gamma globulin for use in the passive immunization of high-risk individuals. Minerva Med, 1981 Dec 30, 72(52), 3589 - 93 {Changes in the pharyngeal bacterial flora during hyperbaric oxygenation}; Ulewicz K et al.; Qualitative and quantitative bacteriological tests of throat smears were carried out on the following three groups of patients: 1) Patients exposed to several 90-minute sequences of oxygen hyperbaria, at a height of 2.2 ata O2, at intervals of 2 to 3 days . 2) Patients exposed to a single 30-minute dose of oxygen hyperbaria at a height of 2.5 ata O2/the oxygen test . 3) Patients who had never been exposed to oxygen hyperbaria . Several hundred bacterials strains of the Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella and Nocardia genus were isolated from the material collected from the tested patients over intervals of a few days . The collected samples were when subjected to a detailed bacteriological analysis . At the same time bacteriological tests were performed at intervals on the hyperbaric atmosphere of the therapeutic pressure chamber, the walls of the chamber, and the masks used by the patients during the administration of hyperbaric oxygen . A certain degree of qualitative and quantitative changes (number reduction of bacterial strains) was observed . The authors attribute these results to the influence of hyperbaric oxygenation both on the microorganisms, as well as on a given patient's reactivity. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Dec, 34(12), 1626 - 33 {Clinical evaluation of cefroxadine dry syrup in pediatric field (author's transl)}; Minamitani M et al.; Clinical evaluation was carried out on cefroxadine dry syrup (containing 100 mg of cefroxadine per 1 g) for child use, and the following results were obtained . 1 . Serum levels: Peak serum levels at 1 hour after single administration of CXD 100 mg (9.1 mg/kg) to a 4-year old child (11kg) and 300 mg (12.8 mg/kg) to a 8-year old child (23.5 kg) were 20.32 microgram/ml and 18.75 microgram/ml, respectively . They declined to 0.78 microgram/ml and 0.88 microgram/ml respectively after 6 hours and to undetectable levels after 8 hours . Half-life was 1 hour and 1.2 hours, respectively . CXD has shown the same concentration pattern as CEX, except for the fact that serum levels were peaked after 30 minutes and not detectable after 6 hours . 2 . Clinical responses: CXD was administered, for 7 days, to 33 children with scarlet fever in the dosage of greater than or equal 20 approximately less than 60 mg/kg/day (7 children in greater than or equal to 20 approximately 30 mg/kg/day, 21 in greater than or equal to 30 approximately less than 40 mg/kg/day and 5 in greater than or equal to 40 approximately less than 60 mg/kg/day) . Clinical responses were excellent in 19 cases and good in 14 cases, with an efficacy rate of 100% . All strains of group A Streptococcus isolated from the pharynx of 22 children were eradicated within 24 hours . In 1 case each of acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute laryngotracheitis and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, the dosage of greater than or equal to 30 approximately less than 45 mg/kg/day produced a 100% good clinical response and eliminated the causative pathogens . 3 . Side effect: Only 2 cases of eosinophilia were observed in hematologic study as well as in hepatic and renal function tests before and after administration. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Dec, 34(12), 1577 - 80 9-epi-leucomycin A5 . Synthesis and antimicrobial activity; Sakakibara H et al.; 9-epi-Leucomycin A5 has been obtained from leucomycin A5 (I) by the following reaction sequence . Leucomycin A5 (I) was treated with Collins reagent (CrO3-pyridine) in the presence of water (13%) to provide 9-dehydroleucomycin A5 (II) in 95% yield . The formyl group was internally protected by the reaction of II with acetic anhydride-K2CO3 to afford 18,2'-di-O-acetyl-9-dehydroleucomycin A5-3,18-hemiacetal (III) . Sodium borohydride reaction of II provided a 1 : 1 mixture of natural I and its 9-epimer, 9-epi-leucomycin A5 (IV), which were separated by silica gel chromatography . It was observed that the antimicrobial activities of both enantiomers were virtually identical with some tests strains but that of IV is reduced in comparison with I in some bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis sp-al-1 and Streptococcus pyogenes N . Y . 5. Infect Immun, 1981 Dec, 34(3), 871 - 9 Effect of human saliva on the fluoride sensitivity of glucose uptake by Streptococcus mutans; Germaine GR et al.; The fluoride (F) sensitivity of glucose uptake by whole cell suspensions of streptococcus mutans in the presence and absence of human whole salivary supernatant was studied . It was observed that dithiothreitol (DTT) and other thiols markedly reduced the F sensitivity of cells when saliva (50%, vol/vol) was present during glucose uptake . In the absence of saliva, cells were sensitive to 2 to 2.5 mM F regardless of the presence of thiols . Supplementation of cells in phosphate or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffers with physiological concentrations of calcium or phosphate had no effect on the F sensitivity of the organism . Experiments with permeabilized cells suggested that thiols themselves had no direct effect on the F sensitivity of enolase (a principal F target) . Cells pretreated with DDT subsequently exhibited decreased F sensitivity when examined in the presence of saliva but not in the absence of saliva . Cells pretreated with whole salivary supernatant were found to be subsequently less sensitive to F in the absence of saliva during glucose uptake . Furthermore, in cases where cells were pretreated with saliva, subsequent additions of DDT were unnecessary to obtain maximal reduction in the F sensitivity of glucose uptake . It was concluded that the saliva-dependent reduction in F sensitivity of glucose uptake was not due to sequestration of available F by salivary constituents . The data suggest that a salivary component(s) interacts directly with the microorganism in some manner which results in reduced F sensitivity of the process under study . Possible mechanisms of saliva action are discussed. Infect Immun, 1981 Dec, 34(3), 1044 - 55 Isolation and characterization of Streptococcus mutans mutants defective in adherence and aggregation; Murchison H et al.; A method was developed which enriched for mutants of Streptococcus mutans that exhibit defects in adherence to glass, aggregation, or both . Mutants were isolated from derivatives of strains PS14 (serotype c) and 6715 (serotype g) after mutagenesis with either ethyl methane sulfonate or nitrous acid . Cell survival after mutagenesis was kept above 1 to 2% to enhance the probability that mutants resulted from single mutational events . A total of 117 mutants were isolated; they also displayed non-wild-type colony morphology on mitis salivarius agar . These mutants were examined for (i) adherence and aggregation after overnight growth in sucrose-containing medium, (ii) aggregation of nongrowing cells in the presence of 200 microgram of sucrose per ml or 20 microgram of dextran per ml, and (iii) dextranase production on blue dextran agar plates . Although we isolated mutants which exhibited a variation from the parent strain in only one of the traits tested, the majority of mutants exhibited defects in two or more characteristics . Thirty-eight stable mutants of independent origin were categorized into 13 separate phenotypic groups. Am J Gastroenterol, 1981 Dec, 76(6), 542 - 3 Streptococcus bovis bacteremia following surgical cure of colonic cancer; Ribaudo TP et al.; A patient with adenocarcinoma of the colon developed S . bovis endocarditis 21 months after presumed surgical cure of his cancer . The sequence in all previously published cases is that of bacteremia first, followed by a diagnosis of colon cancer . Is there a predetermined genetic or immunologic factor predisposing to S . bovis bacteremia even after the integrity of the mucosal barrier has been restored post-resection? Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 66 - 9 {Physicochemical and immunochemical characteristics of the polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3}; Tsvetkova NV et al.; Capsular polysaccharides were isolated from Str . pneumoniae (serotype 3), grown on solid culture media, by the method of acetone sedimentation and subsequent deproteinization with phenol . The preparations thus obtained possessed serological type specificity, contained more than 40% of carbohydrates and insignificant amounts of protein and nucleic substances . The isolated polysaccharides contained a high-molecular fraction with the coefficient of distribution not exceeding 0.1, thus corresponding to the requirements for highly immunogenic preparations. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 60 - 2 {Biological properties of the antigens isolated from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3}; Elkina SI et al.; The protective activity of polysaccharide-containing antigens of Str . pneumoniae, serotype 3, was studied . The protective properties of the preparation were shown to be directly related to the quantitative content of carbohydrate substances, and the preparation was shown to be capable of inducing specific resistance . The study revealed that the resistance of mice to infection with the virulent strain of Str . pneumoniae, serotype 3, did not ensure the rapid elimination of the infective agent from the body . The antimicrobial effect of the preparation was due to the presence of protein, not subjected to deproteinization. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 56 - 9 {Sensitivity of different mouse strains to Streptococcus pneumomiae serotype 3}; Vinnik AL et al.; The sensitivity of different mouse strains to Str . pneumoniae, serotype 3, after the intraperitoneal injection of the infective agent was studied . These experiments revealed that the animals under study, so far as their susceptibility and sensitivity were concerned, formed a single group, highly sensitive to this serotype . The sublethal dose of the pneumococcus was determined . The distribution of pneumococci in the organs during a definite time interval was shown and the fact of the prolonged carriership of the capsular forms of the pneumococci was established. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 32 - 6 {Streptococcus pneumoniae interaction with continuous human cell lines}; Gosteva VV et al.; The in vitro model of pneumococcal infection, using continuous mammalian cell lines, is proposed . Two different types of interaction between bacteria and eucaryotic cells are described: the intracellular ingestion of bacteria or their proliferation on the surface of the cellular monolayer, these different types of interaction being characteristic of different cell lines . In case of the proliferation of bacteria on the surface of the monolayer the forms, morphologically similar to the stages of microbial L-transformation, have been detected. Jpn Circ J, 1981 Dec, 45(12), 1395 - 8 Cytotoxicity of antiserum sensitized hemolytic streptococcal M protein fraction on cultured myocardial cells; Yoshinaga M et al.; We have studied cytotoxicity of antisera of monkeys sensitized to streptococcal M protein fraction, which was prepared by the method of Lancefield et al., on cultured myocardial cells . These antisera exerted a significantly higher cytotoxic effect on the myocardial cells than normal monkey sera, and this cytotoxic effect seemed to be organ-specific . In the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes, the antisera had a cytotoxic effect on myocardial cells, but normal sera in the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes had no cytotoxic effects . These data suggest that M protein fraction of hemolytic streptococcus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic carditis. J Bacteriol, 1981 Dec, 148(3), 912 - 8 Inactivation of cell-associated fructosyltransferase in Streptococcus salivarius; Jacques NA et al.; In stationary phase, 95% of the fructosyltransferase (FTase) activity of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975 was found associated with the cells . Within the first 15 min after inoculation into fresh medium, the specific activity of cell-associated FTase decreased by 92% of its initial value . After this period of initial loss, the enzyme was synthesized during exponential growth until a maximum level equivalent to that present before inoculation was obtained . The inactivation of FTase was also demonstrated in a nongrowing system . Washed cell suspensions incubated at 37 degrees C in 200 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) containing 10 microM Cu2+ lost 80 to 95% of their FRase activity after 30 min . This loss could be prevented by the addition of histidine, cysteine, or Ca2+ to the suspension mixture . A factor(s) essential for the inactivation of cell-associated FTase could itself be preferentially inactivated by heating cells at 40 degrees C for periods of up to 3 h, or by storage of cells at 0 to 4 degrees C for several days in a low-ionic-strength, low-pH, potassium phosphate buffer . Treatment of cells with the N-acetylmuramidase enzyme M-1, in the presence of 0.5 M melezitose, resulted in the release of FTase from the cell . The released enzyme was recovered in the supernatant fraction after centrifugation at 160,000 x g for 90 min . Comparison of solubilized active and inactivated FTase preparations by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the inactivation of cell-associated FTase activity was associated with the loss of specific protein bands. Jpn J Exp Med, 1981 Dec, 51(6), 335 - 44 Reduced antitumor and immune-adjuvant activities of the sub-cellular fractions from Group A Streptococcus; Ryoyama K et al.; The sub-cellular fractions from Group A streptococcus (Su-strain) were prepared, and their antitumor and biological activities were examined . The cell wall fraction (CWF) and the protoplast membrane fraction (PMF) were slightly effective in retarding the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in outbred ddY mice when either fraction was used in combination with 5-FU . The cytoplasmic particle fraction (CPF) and the cytoplasmic soluble fraction (CSF), however, were not effective . In the B6D2F1 mice-L 1210 leukemia system, none of the subcellular fractions were beneficial even when combined with 5-FU . Further, the antitumor effect of OK-432 was completely abolished by disruption of the preparation, indicating that antitumor activity of OK-432 may depend on the structural integrity of the cocci in the preparation . Despite the general lack of anti-tumor activity in the mouse systems, the subcellular fractions, including those of OK-432, inhibited the growth of Yoshida sarcoma cells in culture and the uptake of {2H}-UR and {3H}-TdR by L 1210 cells in vitro . The immunopotentiating activities of these fractions, however, were demonstrated to be markedly diminished as compared with those of OK-432 and heated Su-cocci (60 degrees C, 30 min) . The present study, therefore, shows that the decreased antitumor activity of the subcellular fractions closely correlate to the decrease of their immunopotentiating activities. Infect Immun, 1981 Dec, 34(3), 787 - 94 Lysis of erythrocytes by a hemolysin produced by a group B Streptococcus sp; Marchlewicz BA et al.; An improved procedure for the isolation and purification of the hemolysin produced by a group B streptococcus was developed, and the inactivation of partially purified hemolysin by several enzymes was studied . Hemolysin obtained in buffer containing starch and Tween 80 was inactivated by subtilisin and alpha-amylase, suggesting that the hemolysin may consist of a protein hemolytic moiety complexed to starch which acts as a carrier or stabilizer . Properties of the hemolytic reaction were studied by using sheep erythrocytes as target cells . Experiments to examine the kinetics of hemolysis at different hemolysin concentrations resulted in a family of sigmoidal curves characterized by a short prelytic lag phase followed by a period of rapid release of hemoglobin . The binding of the group B hemolysin at 37 degrees C was rapid; within 3 min, most of the cells had bound sufficient hemolysin to produce lysis . In contrast, the hemolysin did not bind to erythrocytes at 0 degrees C . The length of the prelytic lag period and the rate of hemolysis were also temperature dependent . A decrease in total hemolysis was observed when the target cell/hemolysin ratio was increased, suggesting that a multihit response is required for lysis . Intracellular 86Rb and hemoglobin were released at the same rate from hemolysin-treated cells, indicating that a colloid-osmotic process is not involved in the lytic mechanism. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 39 - 43 {Indirect immunofluorescence reaction study of systemic and local humoral immunity in patients with chronic inflammatory lung disease . I . Serological study results with Streptococcus pneumoniae autostrains}; Vishniakova LA et al.; In the serological study of chronic bronchitis at the stage of exacerbation, carried out by means of the indirect immunofluorescence test with the use of Str . pneumoniae autostrains, 90.3 +/- 4% of the patients showed correlation between the presence of pneumococci in the bronchial contents and the systemic immunological reaction to this infective agent . At the acute stage of chronic bronchitis high antibody titers (1 : 1280 - 1 : 5120) prevailed, and the repeated study revealed the 4-fold and greater growth of the initial antibody titers in 35.7 +/- 6.4% of the patients . Antipneumococcal immunity in chronic bronchitis was found to have a pronounced type-specific character. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Dec, (12), 30 - 2 {Protective activity of antigenic preparations isolated by different methods from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3}; Rodionychev EA et al.; The specific protective activity of antigenic preparations isolated from Str . pneumoniae culture by sedimentation with 96% ethanol or acetone was demonstrated in experiments with the active immunization of mice and their subsequent challenge with a virulent culture . The protective activity of antigenic preparations, expressed in micrograms, was shown to be directly related to the protein content of these preparations and inversely related to their carbohydrate content . The deproteinization of antigenic complexes isolated from Str . pneumoniae grown both in solid and in liquid culture media was accompanied by an increase in their immunogenicity. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981 Dec, 251(1), 15 - 26 Purification and characterization of erythrogenic toxins . IV . Communication: mitogenic activity of erythrogenic toxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes strain NY-5; Knoll H et al.; Some in vitro reactions involved in the mitogenic activity of a purified erythrogenic toxin from the group A streptococcus strain NY-5 (ET NY-5) were studied . The optimal dose in the human blood lymphocyte transformation test was 1 to 10(-1) microgram/ml lymphocyte culture, the maximum of 3H-thymidine incorporation was on day 3 or 4 . The mitogenic activity showed the signs of nonspecificity, nevertheless, a specific mitogenic effect could not be ruled out either . When Con A and ET NY-5 were added simultaneously in high or low doses at the beginning of lymphocyte cultivation, antagonism or an additive effect was observed, respectively . Incubation of lymphocytes with ET NY-5 resulted in a decrease of mitogenic activity in the supernatants . Erythrocytes had no similar binding activity . ET NY-5 acts as a T-cell mitogen; 98% of ET NY-5-stimulated lymphoblasts formed E rosettes with sheep red blood cells . Thin-layer isoelectric focusing experiments revealed two mitogenic peaks corresponding to toxin types A and C in the ET preparation. Prim Care, 1981 Dec, 8(4), 593 - 604 Rapid laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases; Kumar A et al.; The countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis and latex particle agglutination tests are rapid, do not require expensive apparatus, and are easy to perform if specific antigens and antisera are available . Both tests have been shown to be of value in the diagnosis of bacterial infections (such as those caused by H . influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, N . meningitidis, E . coli, Staphylococcus aureus and group B streptococcus) and of viral infections (HRVLA and hepatitis B); they may also be of value in fungal and parasitic infections . Etiologic diagnosis of commonly seen clinical conditions (such as pneumonia, meningitis, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, lymphadenitis, and arthritis) by practicing physicians can be made using these tests to detect antigens in various body fluids in a hospital laboratory. Scand J Dent Res, 1981 Dec, 89(6), 445 - 9 Effect of intensive treatment with chlorhexidine on number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva; Maltz M et al.; The effect of intensive treatment with chlorhexidine on the number of S . mutans in saliva was studied in 24 schoolchildren highly infected with this organism . Chlorhexidine gel in individual dental trays was applied under supervision on two consecutive days, four times the first day and three times the second day . The number of S . mutans in saliva was monitored for 6 months . Immediately after treatment, the number was greatly reduced in all of the children . Thirty days after treatment only three children had more than 2 X 10(5) S . mutans/ml saliva, and after 4 months, 11 children still had less than 2 X 10(5) S . mutans/ml saliva . After 6 months the effect of the treatment was obvious in 20% of the children . The results indicate that intensive treatment with chlorhexidine can be used to reduce the S . mutans infection . The antimicrobial treatment, however, should be individually controlled because of variations in the response of the subjects. J Dent Res, 1981 Dec, 60(12), 1987 - 92 Characterization of calcifiable proteolipid from Streptococcus mutans; Streckfuss JL et al.; Proteolipid is known to initiate calcification in vitro . Apoprotein and phospholipid components of proteolipid from five of 14 calcifiable S . mutans specimens were characterized . The apoproteins contained 16 amino acids with calculated percent polarities ranging from 32.0 to 45.2 . The acidic phospholipids were cardiolipin, mono- and diphosphoinositides, and phosphatidylserine . Neutral lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, were also found . The latter were the most abundant in all isolates . Appropriate hydrophobic proteins and acidic phospholipids in the proteolipids accounted for S . mutans calcifiability. J Dent Res, 1981 Dec, 60(12), 1936 - 42 Comparison of Streptococcus mutans concentrations in non-banded and banded orthodontic patients; Corbett JA et al.; The effect of orthodontic banding on the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans in plaque was evaluated by comparisons between patients wearing bands and patients just prior to banding on the basis of treatment and/or dental caries history . Banded patients had significantly higher levels of S . mutans in plaque and greater numbers of S . mutans-infected sites than did caries-free patients . Caries-free banded patients had more S . mutans-infected sample sites than did the caries-free non-banded group. Prim Care, 1981 Dec, 8(4), 571 - 81 An approach to the child with pharyngitis; Congeni BL; In the child with pharyngitis, the physician's major task is to distinguish streptococcal from nonbacterial pharyngitis . Clinical and laboratory information is useful, but the diagnosis of streptococcal disease may be imprecise . Even the recovery of group A streptococcus from a throat culture must be interpreted with caution . Most physicians who treat a large number of children with pharyngitis will depend to a large extent on clinical judgment . When judgment is reinforced by a leukocyte count and differential and/or a throat culture, accuracy is enhanced considerably . Under the best of circumstances, some patients without streptococcal disease will be treated . Once the decision to treat is made, there is never a reason to use any drug other than penicillin for 10 days . In my experience, an injection of benzathine penicillin G, usually in combination with procaine penicillin G, is the safest, most effective, and most practical form of therapy, and compliance in 100 per cent of patients is ensured. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 127 (Pt 2), 407 - 15 Insoluble glucan synthesis by mutansucrase as a determinant of the cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans; Wenham DG et al.; Five strains of Streptococcus mutans were grown in continuous culture with either a limited supply or an excess of glucose . Proteins secreted into the extracellular fluid by strains C67-1, 3209 and K1 rapidly catalysed the synthesis of insoluble glucan from sucrose (mutansucrase activity) . The culture fluid from strains Ingbritt or C67-25 catalysed the synthesis of soluble glucan (dextransucrase activity) and fructan, but little or no mutansucrase activity was detected . The strains which secreted active mutansucrase readily colonized a smooth hard surface during growth in batch culture and were more cariogenic in pathogen-free rats than those which secreted little mutansucrase activity . There was no similar correlation between fructosyltransferase, dextransucrase or total glucosyltransferase activity and either adherence or cariogenicity . We conclude that the ability to catalyse insoluble glucan synthesis is a major determinant of the cariogenicity of S . mutans strains. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1981 Nov 30, 57(22), 2277 - 82 Chromatographic purification from Streptococcus faecium extract of a factor active on Picornaviridae; Calatroni A et al.; "In vitro" antiviral activity against Picornaviridae and the trials for purification from Str . faecium extract of a factor responsible of these effects are reported . Fractionation on Bio-Gel P-150 and on DEAE-cellulose column and analytical methods for protein and aminosugars were used . Present results demonstrate an antiviral activity of Str . faecium extract against Picornaviridae . Virus inhibiting activity is not correlated with the majority of the Folin reacting proteins, which are present in the bacterial extract . No reliable relationship could be detected for aminosugars containing components, since the amount of aminosugar in fraction from Bio-Gel is extremely low and widely distributed. Rev Infect Dis, 1981 Nov-Dec, 3 suppl, S240 - 9 Evaluation of antimicrobial agents in the rabbit model of endocarditis; Sande MA; The placement of a sterile polyethylene catheter in the heart of a rabbit results in nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis characterized by an accumulation of fibrin strands, erythrocytes, and platelets that adhere to the endothelial surface . These elements form a nidus where a pathogen, when introduced by injection, lodges, multiples, and develops vegetations typical of infective endocarditis . In the rabbit model, endocarditis induced by Staphylococcus aureus or viridans group Streptococcus resembles the human disease in clinical and bacteriologic features and in response to antimicrobial therapy . The rabbit model thus affords a means of evaluating the therapy of endocarditis . The end points of therapeutic response are culture-negative vegetations and failure to relapse . On the basis of these criteria vancomycin was found to be more rapidly effective in curing an infection caused by a single strain of S . aureus than penicillin or cefazolin and as effective as a combination of penicillin and gentamicin. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1981 Nov, 60(5), 381 - 5 The colonization of Streptococcus faecium in human intestinal tract after oral administration; Bongetta R et al.; The colonizing ability of Streptococcus faecium strain SF 68 at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract was assessed in ten patients . They were orally treated with a preparation containing the bacteria in lyophilized form for three days . During an abdominal surgical operation a sample of bacterial content of jejunum, ileum and colon was taken and cultured . The Streptococcus faecium was detected in all treated patients in a quite high concentration compared to the counts of both aerobic and anaerobic germs . These data confirms the rapid growth of SF 68 after oral administration in the gastrointestinal human tract. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Nov, 127, pt 1, 201 - 8 Metabolism of the polysaccharides of human dental plaque: release of dextranase in batch cultures of Streptococcus mutans; Walker GJ et al.; Dextranase activity was determined in cell extracts and cell-free filtrates of Streptococcus mutans strains which had been grown in batch culture . Exo-dextranase activity was located chiefly in cell extracts, whereas endo-dextranase was mainly extracellular . Release of endo-dextranase began early in the exponential phase of growth, and ended when the concentration of residual sugar was low . Thus, dextranase expression was associated with rapidly growing cells, the yield of dextranase was increased several fold when the initial concentration of D-glucose in the medium was changed from 0.5% to 2% . The endo-dextranase was not stable at pH 5, and control of the pH of the culture was essential to preserve active dextranase during overnight growth . Strain Ingbritt (serotype c) and serotype d strains were the best dextranase producers; other strains (serotypes a, b, c, e and f) displayed much lower activity . The ability to produce endo-dextranase, and to synthesize alpha-D-glucans with a high proportion of (1 leads to 3)-linked sequences, appeared to be related properties . The possibility is discussed that the release of two enzymes, namely endo-dextranase and the D-glucosyltransferase (GTF-I) that synthesizes (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucan, are factors that contribute to the cariogenicity of S . mutans serotype d. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Nov, 127, pt 1, 147 - 54 The use of M1 medium in transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Grist RW et al.; Cultures of a variety of pneumococcal strains maintained competence longer and gave higher yields of transformants when incubated in M1 medium compared with NS medium . This was most probably due to the cells remaining competent for longer in M1 medium . Various parameters controlling the development of competence in M1 medium were investigated . The onset of competence was delayed in M1 medium compared with that in NS medium, probably due to the presence of Casamino acids in the former . Competence developed normally over a pH range of 7.3 to 8.3, with cultures inoculated from the same batch of frozen "precultures" showing consistent characteristics . This was not observed when frozen "sensitization" cultures were revived . The average cell chain length increased with the development of competence in all the strains tested and, with the exception of cultures which had entered the stationary growth phase, declined after the culture had lost its competence . The extent of the increase in chain length was dependent upon the pH of the medium. Infect Immun, 1981 Nov, 34(2), 407 - 15 Immunization with purified protein antigens from Streptococcus mutans against dental caries in rhesus monkeys; Lehner T et al.; Protein antigens I, I/II, II, and III were prepared from Streptococcus mutans (serotype c) . Their immunogenicities and protective effects against dental caries were investigated in 40 rhesus monkeys kept entirely on a human-type diet, containing about 15% sucrose . Antigens I, I/II and, to a lesser extent, antigen II induced significant reductions in dental caries, as compared with sham-immunized monkeys . This was achieved with 1 or 2 doses of antigen, the first of which was administered with adjuvant (Freund incomplete adjuvant or aluminum hydroxide) . There was no reduction in caries in monkeys immunized with antigen III . The reduction in caries in the animals immunized with antigens I or I/II was comparable to that in monkeys immunized with whole cells . Protection against caries was associated predominantly with serum and gingival crevicular fluid immunoglobulin G antibodies, which appeared to be directed against the antigen I determinant, but antibodies to antigen II, though not to antigen III, were also protective. Obstet Gynecol, 1981 Nov, 58(5), 621 - 5 Bacteremia in obstetrics: clinical course; Blanco JD et al.; The authors reviewed all documented cases of bacteremia in obstetric patients between 1975 and 1979, with emphasis on the clinical course . The incidence of bacteremia was 7.5:1000 obstetric admissions and 9.7% of those patients sampled . One hundred seventy-six bacteremic obstetric patients had the following diagnoses: endoparametritis (123), pyelonephritis (29), chorioamnionitis (14), and other (10) . No deaths, clinical evidence of septic shock, or cases of postinfection endocarditis were found . The most common bloodstream isolates were Escherichia coli (57), group B streptococcus (28), and Bacteroides sp (26) . The patients with endoparametritis had a fever index of 86.2 +/- 47.1F-hours, an average hospital stay of 6.5 +/- 3.1 days, a 7.3% rate of complications, and a 19.5% rate of failure of primary antibiotics . The patients with chorioamnionitis had a fever index of 32.7 +/- 48.9F-hours and an average hospital stay of 4.8 +/- 2.3 days . These clinical measures are comparable with those in the general population with the same diagnoses at the authors' hospital . In this obstetric population, prompt, vigorous treatment rendered the clinical course of bacteremic patients with genital infections remarkably similar to that of nonbacteremic patients with the same kinds of infection. J Exp Med, 1981 Nov 1, 154(5), 1703 - 8 C-reactive protein is protective against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in mice; Mold C et al.; C-reactive protein (CRP) has several properties that suggest that it may function as a bacterial opsonin . CRP shows binding reactivity with pneumococcal C-polysaccharide, the cell wall carbohydrate of Streptococcus pneumoniae . In this study we have demonstrated protection of mice against serotypes 3 and 4 of S . pneumoniae infection by a single prior injection of CRP . This effect was seen both in mice that lacked antibody to phosphocholine and in normal mice . Thus the opsonic properties of CRP previously described may be related to protection against pneumococcal infection. Gene, 1981 Nov, 15(2-3), 289 - 93 Rapid cloning of specific DNA fragments of Streptococcus pneumoniae by vector integration into the chromosome followed by endonucleolytic excision; Mejean V et al.; A method for the rapid cloning of specific Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA fragments depends on the integration by homologous recombination into the bacterial chromosome of a plasmid which carries an insert of S . pneumoniae DNA, but which cannot be autonomously maintained in S . pneumoniae . Selection for plasmid integration employs aminopterin or erythromycin resistance . Host sequences adjacent to the site of insertion are easily cloned by enzymatic excision and recircularization of the plasmid, followed by propagation in Escherichia coli . This is particularly useful for repeated cloning of a given fragment that carries various mutations. Arch Ophthalmol, 1981 Nov, 99(11), 2034 - 6 Cephradine levels in human aqueous humor; Axelrod JL et al.; In an attempt to investigate penetration of cephradine into the primary aqueous humor in man, we administered 500-mg and 1-g doses of cephradine orally to 27 patients about to undergo elective cataract extraction . A mean peak aqueous humor level of 0.87 microgram/mL was obtained at about three hours after the 500-mg dose . The mean peak aqueous humor level after the 1-g dose also occurred at three hours and was 1.99 microgram/mL, with a range from 0.91 to 3.25 microgram/mL . This concentration was greater than the median minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cephradine for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Str pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus (when tested in nutrient agar) but was greater than the MIC for 90% of isolates only with Str pyogenes. J Dairy Sci, 1981 Nov, 64(11), 2240 - 5 Effect of duration of teat cup liner closure per pulsation cycle on bovine mastitis; Reitsma SY et al.; Measurements of teat end expansion and contraction times from step changes in pressure suggest that teat ends require a minimal duration of liner closure for response . Effect of duration of liner closure per pulsation cycle on susceptibility of the udder to infection was tested . Four durations of liner closure (liner more than half closed) were applied: zero, .17, .34, and .51 s per pulsation cycle . For the latter three treatments, duration of the liner more than half open was .66 s per pulsation cycle, resulting in pulsation rates of 72.3, 60.0, and 51.3 pulsations per min . Four groups, each of 10 British Friesian cows, were in a 4-wk experiment . High bacterial exposure of all teats was ensured by dipping them before and after each milking in a suspension of Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus dysgalactiae . Numbers of quarters becoming infected per treatment group were 20, 11, 4, and 5 . This result represents both a significant inverse linear and quadratic relationship between proportion of quarters becoming infected and duration of liner closure . We conclude that a sufficient duration of liner closure, i.e., one-third of a second or more, per pulsation cycle contributes to reducing risk of new mammary gland infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Nov, 20(5), 563 - 6 Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the adhesion of Streptococcus pyogenes to pharyngeal epithelial cells; Tylewska S et al.; The hydrophobicity and charge of the cell surface of M protein-positive (M+) and the less virulent M protein-negative (M-) strains of type 12 Streptococcus pyogenes have been studied, respectively, by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and free zone electrophoresis . The M+ strain had a more hydrophobic and a more negatively charged surface than the M- strain . When the M+ strain was cultivated in the presence of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of different antibiotics, its hydrophobicity either decreased or did not change . The M+ organisms adhered to pharyngeal epithelial cells more avidly than M+; however, cultivation of both strains with sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin and rifampin led to the decrease in adhesion . Tetracycline caused a decrease in adhesion for the M+ strain only, whereas cephalothin and polymyxin (to which the strains are resistant) did not affect adhesion or hydrophobicity of the M+ organisms . The negative surface charge of the M+ bacteria increased considerably upon exposure to rifampin and penicillin, and the M- bacteria exhibited small or no change . The contributions of these changes to suppression of infections are discussed. Can J Microbiol, 1981 Nov, 27(11), 1150 - 5 Type III group B streptococcal infections in mice: bacteremia and meningitis following oral inoculation; Lounsbery JL et al.; The successful production of disease in mice by a type III group B streptococcus is described in this report . When injected intravenously, 106 organisms produced a fulminating sepsis and resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h . Inoculation of 108 - 109 organisms directly onto the surface of the oropharynx progressed to bacteremia and meningitis in greater than 50% of animals . In a group of mice treated with penicillin immediately after oropharyngeal inoculation, the incidence of invasive bacteremia was reduced to 30% . The use of this animal model for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of experimentally produced meningitis and eradication of oropharyngeal colonization is discussed. Am J Med Sci, 1981 Nov-Dec, 282(3), 98 - 103 Endocarditis due to group A streptococcus; Savage D et al.; In a prospective 30-month study 85 cases of endocarditis were observed at Harlem Hospital Center . Seven were due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus . Six of the seven were heroin users in whom solitary tricuspid valve infection occurred . Aortic valve infection occurred in the remaining patient . An incidence of 8% of group A streptococcal endocarditis was observed . An unusual local frequency of 14% of group A endocarditis among heroin addicts was noted. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Nov, 14(5), 567 - 70 Lack of requirement for blind subcultures of BACTEC blood culture media; McLaughlin JC et al.; To determine the need for blind subculturing of BACTEC (Johnston Laboratories, Cockeysville, Md.) blood culture media, we compared results of radiometric readings, visual inspection, and blind subculturing for nearly 7,500 blood specimens . Visual inspection and radiometric testing were performed on day 1 through 7, and blind subcultures were made on day 3 . In the first phase of the study, 402 of 3,896 aerobic bottles were positive by radiometric testing (growth index, greater than 25), visual inspection, or subculturing . Only six bottles were radiometrically negative but subculture positive on day 3 . The second phase of the study was designed to determine if aerobic bottles eventually became radiometrically positive in those cases in which they were radiometrically negative but subculture positive on day 3 . Two bottles were subculture positive but never gave a growth index of greater than or equal to 25 by day 7 . One yielded Staphylococcus epidermidis, and one yielded viridans, Streptococcus sp . A total of 35 anaerobic organisms were isolated from 3,896 blood specimens . All of these anaerobes were detected by both radiometric testing and subculturing . We examined a total of 14,972 blood culture bottles . Twenty-nine bottles considered negative by visual inspection or radiometric readings were found to be positive by subculturing . Fifteen of these were shown, by chart review, to contain contaminants . Organisms in the other negative bottles would not have gone undetected because companion bottles from the same patients were radiometrically or visually positive . We concluded that it is necessary to perform blind subcultures of BACTEC 7B and 8B blood culture bottles. Arch Intern Med, 1981 Nov, 141(12), 1714 - 5 Serious infection in an adult due to penicillin-tolerant group B streptococcus; Steinbrecher UP; This report describes a patient with group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia with pyelonephritis and septic arthritis whose condition failed to improve after two weeks of therapy with penicillin G sodium . The organism was found to be tolerant to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration, 0.06 IU/mL; minimal bactericidal concentration {MBC}, 10 IU/mL) . Antimicrobial synergy with gentamicin sulfate was demonstrated (MBC of penicillin was 0.07 IU/mL in the presence of 2.5 micrograms/mL of gentamicin) . Addition of gentamicin to penicillin therapy was associated with clinical improvement . It is suggested that bactericidal rather than inhibitory susceptibility tests be employed as a guide to therapy in serious GBS infections . Where penicillin tolerance is found in association with a poor clinical response to penicillin, addition of an aminoglycoside should be considered . Antimicrobial synergy studies should be performed to demonstrate that a beneficial effect is possible at clinically attainable antibiotic concentrations. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1981 Nov, 5(5), 592 - 4 Blistering distal dactylitis; McCray MK et al.; Blistering distal dactylitis is a distinctive infection localized to the volar fat pad of the distal phalanx of the finger . The causative agent is a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus . The organism can be identified by a Gram-stained smear and culture of the blister fluid . The infection responds readily to incision and drainage, compresses, and a course of an appropriate oral antibiotic. J Exp Med, 1981 Nov 1, 154(5), 1475 - 88 Alteration of clonal profile . III . T15 ontogenetic advantages are not sufficient for establishing idiotypic dominance in adoptive transfer; Quan ZS et al.; We have examined the ontogeny of BALB/c plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to phosphorylcholine (PC) from fetal and neonatal liver by using the (CBA/N x BALB/c)F1 transplantation model . In this system, thymus-dependent (PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and thymus-independent class 1 (PC-Brucella abortus, PC-lipopolysaccharide) PC antigens stimulate B cell subpopulations, which functionally emerge early after transfer . Responsiveness to a thymus-independent class 2 antigen, C-polysaccharide extract of a Streptococcus pneumoniae mutant, is acquired later . The response to PC antigens tested initially exhibited T15 dominance . Non-T15 clones, which are not expressed to a great degree in normal BALB/c mice, are inherently slow in their rate of maturation; in adoptive transfer, however, they eventually comprise much of the transplanted anti-PC PFC response . Obviously, the advantages the T15 subset has in ontogeny do not result in idiotypic dominance once the immature cells are removed from the intact BAL